Team USA basketball vs. Australia score, Tokyo Olympics: Americans advance to face France in gold medal game

The Americans will face France for the gold medal on Friday

The United States men's basketball team survived a first-half scare vs. Australia in the first Olympic semifinal on Thursday, turning a 15-point second-quarter deficit into a runaway 97-78 victory. The Americans will play France, which held off Luka Doncic and Slovenia, 90-89, in the other semifinal matchup, for the gold medal on Friday night. Australia will face Slovenia for the bronze. 

Kevin Durant, who has already etched his name in history as the United States' all-time leading Olympic scorer, was spectacular again, keeping Team USA afloat when nobody else could get anything going. Durant finished with 23 points and was a switching, rim-protecting force on the defensive end, which is ultimately where the Americans won this game.

Shooting just 2-for-14 from 3 in the first half, Team USA cranked up the defensive pressure to start creating transition buckets and open 3s en route to a 31-6 run (with a 20-0 stretch sprinkled in) over the end of the second quarter and the start of the third. The Americans shot 7-for-14 from 3 over the third and fourth quarters, with Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum heating up on the cleaner looks. 

Heading into the fourth quarter, Team USA had swung the game 34 points, from down 15 to up 19 with a 48-14 run. The U.S. continues to start games slowly, even sloppily, but over time the depth of their talent advantage has proven to be too much. 

"A lot of teams are expecting us to fold early," Durant said after the game. "…We had a lot of guys with straight faces when we were down 15. 'Strong faces' is what Pop said."

Jrue Holiday's defense continues to get the recognition it deserves. After an all-time defensive showing throughout the NBA playoffs and particularly in the Finals, Holiday was central to Team USA holding Australia's Patty Mills -- who was getting past his defenders at will to start the game but wasn't able to finish much -- to 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting. 

Holiday has been Team USA's second-best player throughout the Olympics. His defense speaks for itself, but his aggression on the offensive end, even when his shots aren't going, keeps the Americans moving forward. He puts pressure on you at all times, on both ends. He finished with 11 points, eight assists, eight rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot vs. Australia. 

Australia had beaten Team USA in its last two meetings, both exhibitions (2019 and 2021), but the Americans improved to 9-0 over the Aussies in actual Olympic play.

"We came here with one goal and that's to win a gold medal and now we're in a position to do it," Team USA star Damian Lillard stated following their win over Australia. 

[Aug 5, 2021 at 1:35 am ET · Brad Botkin]

USA down 15 in second quarter to down 3 at half to up 19 at end of third. Woah

[Aug 5, 2021 at 1:33 am ET · Brad Botkin]

what a statement. Did with defense and Durant, then others got going

[Aug 5, 2021 at 1:32 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Forget about it. US up 15

[Aug 5, 2021 at 1:25 am ET · Brad Botkin]

now the 3s falling for USA. It'll be a wrap if that continues

[Aug 5, 2021 at 1:24 am ET · Brad Botkin]

31-6 run to close second quarter and open third for USA

[Aug 5, 2021 at 1:23 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Durant hits first 3. He's just taking over on clear outs. Gonna have to start coming to double if you're Australia

[Aug 5, 2021 at 1:22 am ET · Brad Botkin]

KD taking over. Inevitable

[Aug 5, 2021 at 1:21 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Durant has been terrific without hitting a 3 so far

[Aug 5, 2021 at 1:19 am ET · Brad Botkin]

USA takes first lead since 2-0 on Holiday short jumper

[Aug 5, 2021 at 1:01 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Huge 14-4 run for Americans to close first half only down 3. Lead got as big as 15 for Australia.

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:59 am ET · Brad Botkin]

USA cutting this lead down from 15 to 7 at the moment saved their life, for the moment

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:55 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Booker hits first 3 for USA with 3:20 to play in second quarter

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:55 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Patty Mills!!!

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:51 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Doe any team at the Olympics outside USA make the playoffs in the East?

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:49 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Australia up 15 on heels of 8-0 run. US loose like the inferior team, flat out

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:48 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Oh boy. Thybulle going to line for 3-point play. US down 12 could be 13. This is past the worry time

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:47 am ET · Brad Botkin]

That Durant one-foot fallaway off glass plus the foul is insanely difficult, but if that's the kind of shot the Americans have to make all night? The Australia defense came to play

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:46 am ET · Brad Botkin]

US down 8 with Mills 1 for 6 is not great, Bob

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:44 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Things really going Aussies' way. Live ball Technical foul halts US fast break.

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:41 am ET · Brad Botkin]

US yet to make a single 3-pointer? Wow

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:40 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Middleton front-rims a dunk. Yikes. Omens getting sketchy here for USA

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:36 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Lillard passes out of double and gets it back with single coverage, Gets to cup. Americans down 6 at end of first quarter

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:33 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Durant with a couple buckets. Has been cold from 3. Needs to get going here

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:30 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Mills beats Durant for scoop 2. Absolutely nobody can stay in front of him

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:29 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Love how they let reasonable contact happen in these FIBA games. Almost impossible to overstate how much better it makes the game

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:29 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Thybulle another steal

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:26 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Mills is beating his defender every single time but is yet to score. Heading to the line for two here

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:25 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Australia will say "Thank you" every time Holiday pulls up for 3 off dribble

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:24 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Thybulle already with a steal. This guy is a defensive STAR and has big shooting upside too

[Aug 5, 2021 at 12:23 am ET · Brad Botkin]

Dante Exum and Matisse Thybulle check in